The Third Genesis is the Noblebright 40K
“As someone who’s gotten sick of Warhammer 40K, this reminds me of what I liked about it when I first got into it.”
One of my fellow authors had this to say about my, The Third Genesis (3G) fantasy series at a writer’s group we both attend. I’ve known the man since college, and I was quite surprised. He was the one who introduced me to Warhammer 40K.
After that, I started thinking about the similarities between 3G and 40K, and was surprised at how many there were.
Both have false deities ruling over mankind in the distant future.
Both blend aspects of science fiction and high fantasy.
Both have seemingly unending conflict for the main characters to deal with.
Both also address such issues as the abuse of religion, inquisitions, and crusades.
The archons of 3G are comparable to the Space Marines and Sisters of Battle in 40K.
However, there is a certain point where the comparisons break down. While 40K is “Grimdark”, 3G is “Noblebright”.
So, for those who don’t know, let’s talk about these genres. Grimdark was a term invented specifically to describe Warhammer 40K. “In the grim darkness of the far future there is only war.” This was the slogan of the 40K setting, and the basic cornerstone upon which they built the rest of the franchise. The genre is based around the idea that, ultimately, there is no hope. In Grimdark, villains can win, heroes can fail despite doing everything right, and there is an overall tone of despair. The genre also often features morally gray (if not outright evil) main characters, with no true “hero” of the story. Some other popular stories that would be considered part of the Grimdark genre would include A Song of Ice and Fire (also known as Game of Thrones) by George R. R. Martin, The Prince of Thorns series by Mark Lawrence, The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie, and The Court of Broken Knives by Anna Smith.
Warhammer 40K exemplifies this genre to the highest degree, as it is clear from the lore that humanity is doomed. The emperor who rules mankind as its god and greatest protector is caught in a perpetual near-death state while seated upon his golden throne, and 1000 psykers (people with psychic powers) are sacrificed per day in order to keep him “alive.” Humanity has also largely forgotten how its spacecraft and other advanced machines work, and the heretical “tech priests” are the last vestiges of any knowledge of how to fix them. Soldiers who join the Imperial Guard are expected to die within the first day of military service, and are considered veterans if they actually survive that first day. In short, this is not sustainable, and the doom of humanity is inevitable in 40K. For this reason, it truly exemplifies the Grimdark genre.
Now, let’s talk about The Third Genesis (3G). The obstacles in the heroes’ path seem truly insurmountable. False gods rule over the world of Ymir, creating all manner of creatures using genetic engineering. These false gods come from Earth, and the story takes place in the distant future. They have abused faith and the concept of religion to enslave the populace and keep them firmly under their thumbs. The world of Ymir is currently in its Fourth Age, and what separates each age from the previous age is that the false gods wipe the slate clean and start again whenever they feel the world of Ymir is getting out of hand. To enforce their will, they have created the archons, genetically engineered winged warriors who put down all resistance, whom the people of Ymir generally revere the same way people from our world would revere angels. The archons have wiped out cities on numerous occasions, and many have survived the various ages of Ymir, and seen the world end multiple times.
Yet, for all this bleakness, there is still hope.
There are people called “seers” in the setting who are capable of seeing the future. These people are considered heretics, and those loyal to the false gods hunt them down, hoping to burn them at the stake. However, these seers have foreseen a time where the false gods will lie defeated, and the people of Ymir will see peace. This day, which lies on the distant horizon, is called “The Third Genesis.” There is hope for the world, an assurance that some day it will all get better. They don’t know when, and they don’t know what they’ll have to go through to get there, but that day is coming.
Couple this with sincerely good-hearted characters who strive to do what’s right, and you have a story that falls squarely in the Noblebright genre.
Noblebright is a genre that has been gaining popularity recently. It is very much the opposite of Grimdark, in that it is full of hope, shows good overcoming evil, and has sincere main characters. That’s not to say that the main characters are perfect, or even that they never make mistakes or do wrong things, but rather there is a general movement toward greater goodness in the setting. Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien is the most classic example of Noblebright. Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan, The Wizard’s Tale by Kate Busiek, and A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet also fit into this genre. These days, it seems more and more people are getting tired of the Grimdark genre and want to see hope and goodness again.
It is my hope that if you were once a fan of Warhammer 40K or other Grimdark fantasy series that you will give The Third Genesis a shot. It is my hope that these fantastical stories will inspire people to keep believing that things can get better, and to strive for the good in life. While I cannot prove that there is a reason to hope, I think it’s readily apparent that without hope we get despair, and despair doesn’t help anyone. So, let’s enjoy stories that bring hope and teach us that goodness is rewarding.
